SYDNEY'S HOME OF SPORT

Welcome to history in the making

SYDNEY'S HOME OF SPORT

Welcome to history in the making

Much of our nation’s history is written on scorecards and told through our sporting triumphs and despair. So it’s not surprising that the green oasis on the edge of the city has always been Sydney’s
beating heart.

From the wide eyes of youth to the glint of older age, these green fields have defined and framed our lives. They are part of who we are: our heritage.

The journey to our city’s original sporting precinct has been a rite of passage for Sydneysiders since long before the SCG’s first cricket Test against England in 1882.

The first inter-colonial rugby union match was played at the ground in 1882. Rugby league took over in 1911, when NSW played New Zealand.

When the time comes for the final siren to sound, and our lives flash before our lives, the images will be of triumphs seen, of childhood heroes and glorious days and nights sharing the experience with family and friends.

From the days of Trumper, Bradman and the immortal rugby league Dragons … Plugger Lockett, David Campese and Shane Warne … or David Warner, Boyd Cordner and Buddy Franklin, this rich tapestry has passed from one generation to the next.

The sand hills, swamp and rubbish tip from Sydney’s colonial past has grown into one of the world’s great sporting hubs, situated in a unique parkland environment.

Our current and second Members Pavilion, opened in 1886, and Ladies Pavilion, erected in 1896, give the grand old lady its grace and style. They have been a silent witness to the golden years of Australian sport: from Ashes glory, the Dragons’ 11 straight rugby league premierships, Plugger Lockett’s AFL record goal and Bledisloe Cup success.

The 1938 Empire Games came and went and Major League Baseball gave us our very own field of dreams when the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers ran the bases on our hallowed turf.

Next door, at the SCG’s shiny neighbour, Allianz Stadium has long been our winter wonderland for rugby league and rugby union. In summer, Sydney FC have become the A-League’s A-listers, with football royalty Dwight Yorke and Alessandro Del Piero gracing the turf.

It has also been the precinct of champions, with the Roosters, Waratahs, Swans and Sydney FC all bringing titles back to their spiritual home.

As the torch passes through the generations, the precinct’s glorious past is celebrated in the boulevard of champions, with 11 bronze statues celebrating those who have made Moore Park the enduring home of Sydney sport.

But it’s not all about the past – or sport.

Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay have rocked the house at Allianz Stadium, while the Sydney Rugby Sevens have dazzled. Big Bash and twenty20 internationals have illuminated the SCG, putting a modern twist on an ancient sport.

As the games change, the SCG and Allianz Stadium grows with them. The giant video screens, corporate boxes and new technology enhance the viewing experience. But the precinct’s essence remains the same.

In 1811, Governor Lachlan Macquarie had a dream for a second Sydney common. That vision has become our city’s beating heart, our heritage, our sacred ground.

The rest is history.

Read More

THINGS TO DO

Take a guided behind-the-scenes walking tour through the historic grounds